Printing apparatus



D. F. FESLER AND H. R. HEDMAN. PRINTING APPARATUS. APPLICAT'ON mmAUG.21,1919.

1,338,6 5, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

D. F. FESLER AND H R, HEDMAN.

PRINTING APPARATUS. APFLICATON FILED AUG.21.1919.

1' v if D. F. FESLER AND H. R. HEDMAN. PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.21. 1919.

1,338,645. Patented Apr 27, 1920. I 4 SHEETSSHEET D. F. FESLER AND H. R.HEDMAN.

PRINTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.21. 1919.

1,338,645. Patented Apr. 27,- 1920..

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

6 -7icg16 85 Nil! UNITED STATES PATENT DOUGLAS F. FESLER AND HERBERT R.HEDMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO HEDMAN MANUFACTURING CO., OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

the following is a full, clear, concise, and

exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

Our inventionrelates to improvements in printing apparatus, and morespecifically is concerned with the provision of improved type andcooperating platen adapted for use in check protectors, numberingmachines and the like,which are designed. to make non-eradica'bleimpressions upon checks and other paper instruments.

Our invention contemplates the provision of type and platen capable ofmaking impressions of letters, figures and other characters, which areof better appearance than the impressions made by the various forms oftype and platen heretofore provided for use in check protectors andother similar printing devices.

Our invention furthermore contemplates the provision of type andcooperating platen, which when properly operated, are capable of makingneat and non-eradicable impressions of any desired character, withoutmaterially weakening the paper at the point where the printing iseffected.

A further object of our invention is to provide type and a platen thatcooperate with each. other to perform their intended functions, withoutincurring verv much wear. The type and platens heretofore used in checkprotectors have ordinarily been provided with cutting surfaces whichcontacted with each other and caused the rapid wearing away of both typeand platen. The type and platen, by virtue of which we attain thehereinbefore mentioned objects, and more particularly characterized asfollows: I

(1) The type which are carried by suitable type supporters, preferablyby being cast integral therewith, are provided with printing faces whichare perfectly flat and smooth, being entirely free from depressions,ridges or grooves of any kind whatsoever;

(2) The platen is provided with a large Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 2 1 919.. seri'1""i ib. 318,901.

PRINTING- APPARATUS.

fatente'd Apr. 2'7, 1920.

number of substantially conicalv indenting points, which when the typeare moved against the. platen, in theprinting operation, do not at anytime engage the printing face -of the type, but to the contrary, merelypuncture or indent the paper to the sides of and immediately adjacentthe printing faces of the type.

- (3) The arcuate' of each of the several conical indenting points isless than the perpendicular distance from the type face to the typesupport, so that the indenting points not only do not engage the type atany time, but furthermore, do not even engage the type support. Thus theplaten is practically indestructible, since the indent- .ing points aresubject to practically no wear.

(4) Thesides of each of the type are at all points perpendicular to thefiat, smooth printing face of the type, so that the printing in everyinstance stands out clearly and distinctly on the paper.

(5) The several type are formed in accordance with a definitegeometrical plan, so that when the type supports are properly adjusted,and type and platen brought into printing relation, the type, with theirfiat printing faces and sides perpendicular to the printing faces, pass,down between the indenting points without contacting with the latter.The portions of the platen which lie opposite the printing during theprinting operation, are also substantially flat, so that the paper,during the printing operation, is compressed between flat, smooth typefaces and correspondingly flat portions of the platen. l l

(6) Each side of each type consists of a plurality of straight andarcuate surfaces, all at right angles to the printing face. The curvedor arcuate surfaces of the type sides lie partially around, but outof-contact, with the indenting points of the platen, during the printingoperation, so that when an in]:

(7) The several minute) holes or indentafaces of the type,"-'"

the paper from being substantially weakened, due to the presence oi suchindentatlons. In other words, each lndentation' is vbounded byundisrupted pa per, so that there 1s no tendency at all for the paperupon I which the printing has been eil'ected to become segarated fromthe body of the check.

The type and platen herein shown and described, although not necessarilyso limited in their use, are particularly adaptable to the checkprotector shown and described in Patent No. 1,197,279, granted toDouglas l Fesler on Septemberfith, 1916.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating our invention,

Figures 1 to 10 are plan views of the faces of numeral type illustratingthe preferred formation of digits 0 t0 9.

Fig. 11 illustrates the Pay 9t characters as they appear on the printingtype bar or movable logotype of the Fesler machine previously mentioned.

Figs. l2 and 13 illustrate the type characters And and Cts., as theyappear on the stationary type bars or logotypes of the 'Fesler machine.

Fig. 14k is a clear, enlarged view of the digit 5 as it is preferablyformed in accordance with our invention, the dotted lines serving tomake clear the geometrical plan to be followed in constructing the typecharacters.

Fig. 15 illustrates a certain geometrical figure w rich is employed inconstructing the type of our invention, in accordance with the plan tobe hereinafter fully described.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating the platen andits indentingr, points.

Fig. l? a fragmentary view illustrating the platen in perspective.

Fig. 15% is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line l8-l%of Fig. 14, and

Fig. 1.9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the relationbetween the raised type characters and the platen, during; the printingoperation.

Since the type and platen as actually used are quite small, a drawingillustrating the same in actual size would be difiicult to explain andunderstand. 'llherelore, we have deemed it advisable to illustrate thesame in this case on a scale much greater than actual size. In Figs. 1to 18, the type, and in Figs. 16 and L7,.the platen, have been shownsubsantially ten times actual size, whereas in P ies. 14, 1%. l8 and 19,the scale employed is substantially forty times actual (heck protectorsof the class shown and described in the Fesler patent mentioned order,and the sector of next highest order,

is a second stationary type bar, likewise permanently at the printingline, which usually hears type capable of printing the characters, And,while to the left of the print ing sector of highest order is aso-called limiting type bar, or movable logotype, capable of printingthe characters, Pay $15, which is always at'the printing line, butarranged automatically to take its position immediately adjacent thehighest order printing, sector used in any printing operation. In theFesler patent, the stationary type bars, or logotypes, are illustratedat 32 and 83, whereas the limiting type bar, or movable logotype, isillustrated at 35.

Since all of these parts of the mechanism associated therewith are shownand. fully described in the patent aforesaid, it will be unnecessary forus to burden this descrip-' tion with the deta ls of the 'macl'nne withwhich we prefer to employ the type and platen of our invention. It willsullice to say that in applying our present invention to a. machinesimilar to that of the Fesler patent, the periphery of the several typesectors 16 to 22 will be provided with raised numeral type similar tothose shown in Figs. 1 to 10. The stationary logotypes 32 and 33 will beprovided with type characters of the kind shown relatively in Figs. 13and 12, and the limiting type bar 35 will be provided with typecharacters oi? the kind shown in Fig. 11, and the platen herein shownand described. will be substituted. for the platen of said patent.

In applying sector, the type support, with the type char-- actersstanding; out tron'i the surface thereof, are ordinarilyformed on theperiphery of the printing sector by a die casting operation. types, orat least the portions thereof con stituting the type support and thetype, are also'convenientlyformed by diecasting process. With thisexplanation, it will be necessary to merely illustrate the type\snpportsand the tyi ie carried thereby, which; of course are convenientlytormedintegral with the type support.

iletzu'ringr o each figure we l a port, which. is ca l to 10, at 20 instriated the type i1 y, or constitutes type characters to a printing Thestationary and movable logo- 25 are substantially of the. periphery of aprinting sector. .Formed integral with each type support is a pluralityof type characters which are provided with'fiat, smooth printing faces21, and in this respect are similar to ordinary )rinters t e and aredistin uished from y a a the type usually employed in check protectingapparatus, since the latter, in all commercial machines with which we.are familiar, have been provided with printing faces that are scoredwith alternate ridges and-grooves, or provided with indenting points orthe like. Thus the flat, smooth printing 'facesof the type of ourinvention enable *us to secure the advantage of the good and distinctprinting afforded by type faces that are flat and smooth, similar to thetype employed in ordinary printing. Vile secure a non eradicableimpression without mutilating the printing faces of our type with ridgesand nature' i 'The sides of each of the type comprise a plurality ofsurfaces 22 and 23, all of which perpendicular to the print ing face 21.Thesurfaces 22 are straight plane surfaces, while the surfaces 23 arearcuate or curved-surfaces adapted, when printin is effected, to liepartially around, but not to engage the conical indenting points carriedby the platen presently to be described. Since in printing-the arcuatelateral surfaces 23 of the type are designed to lie partially around thegrooves, or anything of that geometrical plan, in order-that when anytype has been brought to the printlng ine and forced downwardly againstthe platen,

the latter will surely the indenting points of flat, smooth printnotstrike any part of the iug face ofthe. type.

The plan which is followed in laying out the several typeisschematically illustrated in Fig. 1.4.. In Fig. 15 we have illustratedas being provided with a perfectly smooth.

printing face, three straight plane lateral surfaces and two arcuatelateral surfaces,

all of. which are perpendicular tothe printingface. Each of the type ofour invention, although formed in one piece, isv theoretically, and infact nothing more or less than a plurality of printing projections ofthis kind disposed side hv side in accordance with a definite plan. fivehave selected the digit as shown in Fig. 14, to illustrate the plan, u'c ha \0 followed in laying out the several type... The dotted linesacross the print:

ing fax-c of the type indicate the boundaries of the several projectionswhich the type indenting points, '35 it 1s necessary that the typecharacters be lald out in accordance with a certain definite is formed,as well as the relative disposition of said projections. Each of theseveral. pro jections of which the type is made up is disposed with atleast one (but usually with two or more)'of its plane lateral'surfacesimmediately adjacent corresponding straight lateral surfaces ofcontiguous projections of identically the same size and shape, so thatthe printing face, which is the result of the ensemble, is perfectlysmooth and continuous, although of varying width.

Attention is directed to the fact that each of'the small geometricalfigures of which the type face asa whole is made up is in every case .sodisposed that a line X-X bisecting the angle between its two longeststraight sides, and consequently .bisectingits smaller 'ures which makeup the printing faceof the .type. tant because, as will later be morefully This arrangement is highly imporpointed out, the conical indentingpoints of the platen similarly to the circles of Fig. 14, are disposedin staggered rows. lVhen the type and platen are'lorought into printingrelation, the centers of the bases of the conical indenting pointsoccupy positions corresponding t9) the centers of the several dottedcircles. The basesof the conical indenting points are of less'diameterthanthe circles so that when the type and platen are in printingrelation, the indenting points not only fail to engage the printingfacesof the type, but in fact do not even engage the sides of the type.

It is of course possible to construct a raised type figure or'characterconsisting of a multiplicity of pins'or projections of the shape shownin Fig. 15, the said pins or projections being secured and arranged on atype support, in accordance with the plan just explained, However, as apractical matter, after the form of the desired figure or letter hasbeen laid out in accordance with the plan just described, it is morefeasible to cast the type and type support all in one piece.Functionally, type constructed by the two methods are exactly the samething.

All of the numeral type illustrated in Figs. 1V to 10, as well as theletters and symbols of Figs. 11, 12 and 13, are constructed .inaccordance with the same plan and have all of the characteristics whichhave been ascribed to the particular type just described.

In Figs. 16 and 17 the platen illustrated is designed to cooperate withthe type illustrated in the preceding figures.

is in the form of-a bar 25 on the upper surbetween which the type facesare laid out,

The platen faceot which is formed a plurality of coni- I cal indentingpoints 26, arranged in staggered rows, transversely and longitudinallyof the bar as shown. This platen, when used with the type of our presentinvention, in connection with a. machine of the Fesler type, issubstituted tor the platen designated as 24 in the Fesler patent. Theplaten may be formed by any accepted process. In Fig.

'16 the dotted circles around'the bases of the conical indenting pointscorrespond to the dotted circles shown in Fi 1 and thus re bodying ourinvention, the dimension of which platen is YES-fi is prm'ided with ninehundred and ninety indenting points.

In Fig. 1%" we have illustrated a traginentary section of one ot thetype and its support, this view being taken through the type and typesupport on the line lS-l8 of Fig. 14. Any other sections taken throughthe body of the type will be substantially the same except that thewidth of the fiat printing surface of course varies at different points.that the' printing face 21 of the type is peri ectly'smooth and flat, aswell as the fact that the lateral surfaces of the type at right anglesto the smooth flat printing face.

In Fig. 19 we have illustrated how the plate! nd typecooperate'to makean indentaele impression upon a check 27. When the type are moved downtoward the platen, the check in proper position, the checkis pressedtightly between the smooth and flat printing fat-e21 ot the type and theplaten, which is also substantially flat be tween the bases of theindenting points.

Since the paper is pressed between the smooth printing taco 21 and acorrespondingly fiat portion oi the platen, the impression. is veryclearly and distinctly printed upon the check. At the same time, theindenting points 26 serve to produce minute indentations or apertures inthe paper at the verymargins of the printing etlected by the printingface 21. The printing faces of the type are of course inked prior to theprint ing operation, as for instance, by the inking pad designatedas'TiO in the l esler patent previously mentioned, we find that when theprinting operation is effected, a portion oi the ink 'l'orcec lace 2ilinds its way into-the: indentations or a iiertures termed by the rfilfilltlllg 'points .26., and thus renders it absolutely impos sible toseparate the priiitiiigiz The apertures formed in the paper by theindenting This view clearly illustrates the fact l out fromunder/theprinting carrying a raised type charafiat smooth printing race,so

points are very small and are disconnected, so that this method ofmaking an indentable impression upon a check does not to any material.dcgreewealten the check at the points where the printing is eitected.

As is clearly illustrated in F 1g. 19, the

indenting points may be slightly blunt.

Moreover, the altitude of each of the conical indenting points is lessthan the perpendicu lar distance from the printing tace of the type tothe type support, or at any rate, not

greater than this distance, which insures that the indenting pointsshall never strike the type support. Since neither do they engage thetype, has been previously explained, it will. be seen. that they aresubject to practically no mechanical wear.

Of course, it is essential that the type oi our invention shall be inproper position over the platen before being moved down between; theindenting points. This requirement is admirably met by the machine ofthe l esler patent previously referred to, in which some of the typecarried on sta tionary type bars whose positions with respect to theprinting line are permanently fixed, while the other type are carried byprinting sectors or the movable type bar, the

positions of which at the time ct printing are accurately determined bythe method of their mounting and by the provision of special stop anddetent mechanism, all of which are clearly shown and described in thesaid Fesler patent.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim iu:-

1.. Printing apparatus of the class described comprising a platen.provided with a plurality of indenting points, a type sup port carryinga raised type character having a fiat smooth printing face, said typecharacter conformed to pass down between the indenting points of theplaten, without the printing lace engaging the indenting points whentype and platen are moved into er.- gagement onevith the other.

*2. Printing apparatus elf the class scribed comprising a platen havingindent ing points arranged thereon in parallel rows, a type supportcarrying a raised type character having a fiat smooth printing face,said type character contorined to pass down between the indenting pointsof the platen without the printing "ace contacting with the indentingpoints, when type and platen are moved into engagement one with. the

other.

ter conformed to pass down he. the indenting points of the platenwithout the printing face contacting with the indenting points, whentype and platen are moved into engagement one with the other.

t Printing apparatus of the class describedcomprising a platen providedwith a plurality of indenting points, a type support-carrying a raisedtype character having a flat smooth printing face, said type characterconformed to pass down between the printing face engaging the indentingpoints when type and platen are moved into on gagement one with theother, the height of said indenting points being not greater than theperpendicular distance from the printface to the type support.

5. Printing apparatus of the class de scribed comprising a platenprovided with a plurality of indenting points, a type support carrying araised type character having a flat smooth printing face, said typecharacter conformed to pass down between the indenting points of theplaten, without the printing face engaging the indenting points whentype and platen are moved into engagement ne with the other, the heightof said indenting p ofints being less than the perpendicular dJ tancefrom the printing face to the type/support.

6. Printing apparatus comprising a platen, a type support, raised typecharacter carried. by said support and having a flat smooth printingface, indenting points carried by the platen which do not engage themoved into, engagement one with the other, ,said indenting pointsarranged to lie 1mmediately ad acent to the lateral surfaces of the typecharacter and to puncture the paper being printed at the margins of theim pression made thereon bysaid flat smooth printing face.

7. i "rinting apparatus comprising a platen,

ts. Printing aplmratus of the class described comprising a platen havinga plurality of indenting points formed thereon in parallel rows togetherwith a type support, a raised. type character having a fiat smooth pinting face carried by said type support, said type character arrangedto pass down between said indenting points without engaging the latterwhen the type indenting points of the platen, without the printing facewhen type and platen areand platen are moved into engagement one withthe other.

1 9. Printing apparatus com n'ising a type support having a raised typecarried thereon. said type provided with a flat smooth inked printingsurfmre adapted, when n'ioved against the platen, to make an impressionon a paper placed between the type and platen, together with indentingpoints carried by said platen arranged to punch a multiplicity of minuteholes in the paper a and only at the very margins of the impression madethereon by the printing face of said typ- 10, Printing apparatuscomprising a platen, a type character having a smooth fiat printing faceadapted to coiiperate with said platen to make an impression on a paperinstrument together with means carried by the platen adapted to punch amultiplicity of minute holes in the paper at and only at the verymargins of the impression made thereon bysaid printing face.

11. Printing apparatus of the class describedcomprising a platen havinga plurality of indenting points formed thereon in parallel rows, theindenting points of adjacent rows being disposed in staggered relation,together with a type support, a raised type character carried by saidtypesupport,

said type character conformed to pass down between said indenting pointswithout en gaging the latter when type and platen are moved intoengagement one with the other.

12. Printing apparatus comprising a platen, a plurality of rows ofconical indenting points carried by said platenytogethcr with a typesupport, a raised typlo' character carried by the type support, saidtype character having a smooth flat printing face and lateral arcuatesurfaces struck on centers corresponding to the centers of said conicalindenting points.

13. Printing apparatus comprising a platen, plurality of rows ofindenting points carried by said platen, togetherwith a type support, araised type character carried by the type support, said type characterhaving a flat smooth printing face and sides consisting of a pluralityof plane and arcuate surfaces, the latter being struck on centerscorresponding to the location of the indenting points. I i

14-. Printing apparatus of the class described comprising a platenprovided with a plurality of indenting points arranged thereon in rows,a type character having a smooth f at printing face adapted to pass downbetween theindenting points without having the indenting points engagethe printing face of the type, the sides of the; type comprising arcuatesurfaces arranged to embrace the indenting points nearest the printingface When type and platen are moved into engagement'one with the other.

l5. Printing apparatus of the class described comprising a platen, atype character having a fiat smooth printing face, adapted whenpressed'thereegainst to make a solid inked impression upon check orother paper resting on'said platen together with indenting 'iointscarried by the platen operating concnrrently with the making of theimpression to punch n plurality of minute holes in the paper at, andonly at, the very margins ot'the inked impression made by the fiatrinting 2166 of said type, wherebyziv portion of the ink forced out fromunder the printing :tuce finds its way into said apertures to preventobliteration of the printing.

16. Printing epparztus of the class described comprising Lt typesupport, a raised type character thereon having a smooth flat printingface, a, platen provided with a Hat surface which lies oppositethe'srnooth printing face of the type when type and platen are broughtinto engagement one with the other and. indenting? points rising fromthe platen at the margins of said printing face, none of said indentingpoints contacting with the printing "farce.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 19th da ofAugust, 1919 DOUGLAS F. FESLER.

HERBERT R. HEDMAN.

Witnesses EDNA O. GUSTAFSON, ELTZABETH PERKINS.

